Plug



Patented Nov. 13,` 1928i.

kUNITED STATES OSCAR C. DUDLEY, F CANTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

PLUG.

Application led October 14, 1924. Serial No. 743,603. i

` This invention relates to a plug for use upon an extension cord yor the like and for quick insertion into and removal from an ordinary threaded socket or receptacle.

I lt is an object of the invention to provide a structure of this character which is simple and compact, will not .readily getout of order, and can be inserted into a receptacle either by forcing it directly thereinto or by screwing it into the receptacle.

Another object is to provide va plug having simple means whereby the receptacle engaging portions can be shifted toward each other to disengage them from the threads l5 ofthe receptacle.

With rthe foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the coinbination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be vmade Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the plug. $0 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. f

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, FigQ2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44`, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar viewrof Fig.` 4, showingv a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the figuresby characters of reference 1 designates ahandle member having one fiat face asshownat 2 and extending from one side of this flat face is a projecting lug or ear 3. l Formed in the flat face isa recess 4 and secured in this recess are spaced contacting strips 5. These strips are electrically connected by a fusewire 6 or the like and secured to one end of one of the strips is one of the wires 7L of the cord 8 leading to the plug. v An extension 9 is'provided at one end of the handle 1 and is substantially semi-circular in `cross section. This extension has a conducting strip 10 extending longitudinally through it and attached at one'end to one of the strips 5 while its other end is pro.

'vided with a contact button 11 supported beyond the end of they extension 9.

Another handle 12 similar to the handle 1 isk provided and is also formed with a flat vwire or conductor 18'which is embedded in the handle and is seated within an extension 19 on handle 12 and corresponding with the extension 9. The two handles are pivotally connected as shown at 2O and cooperate to form a knob. The extensions 9 and 19 are provided with laterally extending obliquely disposed shoulders 21 adapted to limit the movement of the handles and their extensions relative to each other.

The two handles and their extensions are y preferably formed of .suitable insulating material and the extension 9 has a sleeve 22 mounted on the arcuate surface thereof. This sleeve isy threaded as shown and the engaged portion of the extension 9 is preferably similarly threaded. The extension 19 likewise has a sleeve 23 which is threaded, this sleeve being of conducting material and the conductor 18 being soldered or otherwise connected thereto. A spring 24 is interposed between the extensions 9 and 19 and secured to them so that they will be held normally spaced apart as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This spring can be in the form of a leaf spring as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, or, if preferred, can be a coiled spring 25 seated in sockets 26 in the two extensions, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the parts of the plug are in their normal. positions as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the extensions 9 and 19 are pressed v apart. By grasping the handles 1 and 12 and'pressing the ears 3 and 14 toward each other, the extensions 9 and 19 will be pressed together thereby placing the interposed spring under compression. The plug can then be inserted radially into a receptacle and when the handles are released the plug will be expended `so that the sleeves 22 and 23 will engagel the threaded wall of the receptacle. At the same time the button 11 will engage the central contact in the receptacle. Thus electrical connections will be establishedbetween the wires 7 and 17 and the respective terminals in the receptaele.l By pressing the ears 3 and 14 to- Ward each other the threaded end ot' the plug,l can he contracted. lt Will be of course understood that the plug can he screwed into or out of the receptacle in the usual Way ii so desired.

Importance is attached to the use of the fuse Wire 6 as this serves to protect the fuse on the inain line.

What is elaiined is il plug oit the class described including oppositely disposed duplicate handles having Hat faces in sliding engagement, said handles Cooperating' constantly to forni a knob, an extension at one end each handle, said extensions being substantial duplicates and each extension having a surface and a rounded threaded surface, the fiat surfaces of the extensions being' coextensive and occupying` planes at right angles a pivotal connection between the handles close to their extensions, said connection constituting ineans for holding the handles trom spreading apart along lines extending through the flat faces of the handles, resilient Ineans interposed between the eX- tensions for holding them normally spaced apart, and laterally extending ears inte-gral Tfi'h the respective handles, each ear being; extended in a direction opposite to that of the ear on the other handle and said ears, when pressed toward each other, constitutineans i'or shifting the handles about pivotal connection to more the extentofvard each other.

ln 'Liestinioni7 that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto athied my signature.

OSCAR C. DUDLEY. 

